College Recommendations (Early Decision)

<p>Okay, so I have a few questions about college recommendations, especially for applying early decision.</p>

<p>1) Do I have the people who are writing my recommendations only write it for the school I am applying to ED? They can't send several recs off at once since I'm applying early decision and I obviously don't know if I'll get in. So I would think that I'd just have them send off the one, but what if I don't get in? Do I go back and ask them to resend the letter to the new schools or what?</p>

<p>2) The school I'm applying to ED says they want recommendation as from academic teachers. I've already chosen my Psychics teacher, but I really want to do a non-academic teacher for my second. I go to an Arts school (but I'm not applying to an art college) so our arts classes are legitimate courses and we have the same teacher for all 4 years. My class is a journalism magazine production class. We have received many awards for our magazine and I have a high editor position, plus I know my teacher very well and he knows me. So, given the circumstance, would I be better off just sticking with a second academic teacher or do you think I should use my journalism teacher? </p>

<p>3) How does it work with submitting recommendations online (for the Common App)? I know you have to submit the official requests via the Common App online, but how does it work when I have to approach my teacher? Do I just ask if he wants to do it online, and if he does do I just wait for him to use the e-mail link? If he doesn't, do I just bring in the forms another time? I'm just unclear on what to do.</p>

<p>Thanks so much, and sorry for the long message.</p>

<p>1) Your rec writers should submit online via the common application. Then you choose to submit those rec letters to what school or schools you ultimately choose. Basically, no need for multiple copies from your teachers – one and done. (however, if you apply to outside scholarships, you may need to photocopy the rec letters – again, no need to ask your teacher to write/print another one)</p>

<p>2) That’s a judgment call – do you follow the direction clearly or what you feel might offer a better picture of you to the college. That’s the risk you take.</p>

<p>3) Likely your teacher has uploaded many many rec letters before. Otherwise, look on the common app site – clear directions are there for you.</p>

<p>Please pardon my picking on your typo, but it really made me chuckle.</p>

<p>Just ask your “Psychics” teacher where you will be attending and then you will only need to fill out one application.</p>

<p>Also, it’s fine if the recommendations go to your non-ED schools. You are allowed to apply to other schools, just required to withdraw other applications if you are accepted to your ED school. IOW, if you applied ED to Safety U. you could still submit RD applications to Harvard and Yale before the notification date for your ED school, but if you were accepted to all three you would be required to attend either Safety U. or none at all.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help! </p>

<p>The only problem with the “one and done” thing is that my teachers might specifically refer to the school I’m applying to ED (For example, “Savatar would be a perfect student for Yale because…”) Obviously, if I try apply to RD schools, I don’t want them to say I’d be perfect for Yale if I’m sending the recommendation to Princeton.</p>